FR2788003A1 - Short ski boot fastening has clamping sub-assembly with two branches and lock with jaws on one branch and ball on other - Google Patents

Abstract

The fastening, designed to hold one end of a boot sole against the surface of a base plate (12) fixed to the ski (2), has a clamping sub-assembly with a lock connecting two branches (23, 24). The lock (27) consists of two movable jaws (45, 46) on one of the branches and a ball (35) on the other. The jaws are shaped to receive the ball between them and are held together by a spring (53) on a bolt (50) fastened to one jaw and passing through the other. The ball is connected to a thrust member (26) that fits against the jaws by a cable (36) and spring (37).

Description

Device for retaining a shoe on a sliding board

  The invention relates to the field of ski bindings, and particularly relates to a binding intended to be

used with a short ski.

  A short ski must be understood as being a ski whose length is substantially equal to or less than 1.4 meters, and

  preferably around 1 meter or less.

  The use of short skis in particular leads a user to slide backwards, to slide in rotation combined with a translation, to perform descents in cut driving with very rapid changes of direction,

  or to perform jumps or acrobatics.

  It is known to hold a shoe on a short ski by means of a binding comprising a plate and stirrups. The plate is secured to the ski by any known means, and the boot is retained on the plate by a front stirrup and by a rear stirrup, each of the stirrups cooperating respectively with the front end and the rear end or heel of the boot. The bracket mounting is non-triggerable. Only one

  manual user action allows heaving.

  An advantage which results from the use of a stirrup binding is that the handling of the ski is precise, because retaining the boot on the ski is carried out with an intimate connection of the boot relative to the ski. There are cases in which it would be useful if the boot could separate from the ski without manual action by the user. These cases are those where a strong stress tends to move the heel of the boot away from the ski, either in a direction perpendicular to the ski, or in a transverse direction of the ski, or in a direction

  intermediate between the two previous ones.

  The prior art has proposed retaining devices comprising a stirrup which allows separation of the shoe

and skiing.

  For example, document FR 1 470 904 discloses a device which retains a boot on a ski, the heel of the boot being retained by a stirrup. The structure of the stirrup incorporates an elastic locking means which allows an opening of the stirrup, and therefore a release of the heel from the

  shoe, in the event of a fall before the user.

  The stirrup according to this device is designed to operate

  with a long ski. Skiing with a long ski, that is

  to say a ski whose length is more than 1.4 meters, leads the user to seek sensations of speed in a straight line or according to curves with large radii of curvature. In this case, it is necessary that the stirrup allows a small elastic movement of the rear area of the shoe by

compared to skiing.

  The device according to document FR 1 470 904 is not suitable for retaining a boot on a short ski, in particular because it does not ensure an intimate connection of the boot relative to the ski, and because it allows a release of the

  shoe only in a direction perpendicular to the ski.

  The invention particularly relates to a device for retaining a boot on a ski, the device ensuring an intimate connection of the boot with respect to the ski while driving, the device releasing the heel of the boot in the event of high stress, either in a direction perpendicular to the ski, either in a transverse direction of the ski, or in a

  intermediate direction between the two previous ones.

  A device for retaining a shoe on a short ski according to the invention comprises a plate, the plate having an upper face intended to receive at least part of the sole of the shoe and a lower face intended for

  lean on the ski, the device comprising a sub-

  retaining assembly provided for retaining one end of the sole of the shoe on the upper face of the plate, the retaining sub-assembly comprising two integral branches

  to each other removably by a locking means.

  The device according to the invention is characterized in that the locking means comprises a ball secured to one of the branches and a lock secured to the other branch, the lock comprising two jaws movable relative to each other , the jaws being shaped to accommodate the ball, and an elastic means urging the jaws into a position

closing.

  The cooperation of the ball with the lock allows the branches to be joined if a stress on the boot relative to the ski does not exceed a reference intensity. Beyond this intensity, the branches separate

  and the retaining sub-assembly releases the heel of the shoe.

  As a result, the boot is released from the ski. The transition from a joining phase of the branches to a separation phase

  branches are done brutally.

  The boot is maintained with an intimate connection to the ski while driving, and is released in the event

high demand.

  An advantage is to reconcile precise driving of a short ski with an ability to release the boot by

  compared to skiing in the event of heavy use.

  Another advantage is that the release of the heel from the

  shoe is done in a wide range of directions, that is

  say either in a direction perpendicular to the ski, or in a transverse direction of the ski, or in a direction

  intermediate between the two previous ones.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will be better understood using the description which follows,

  with reference to the appended drawing illustrating, according to a nonlimiting example, how the invention can be implemented, and in which: - FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe retained on a short ski by a device according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a view along II-II of Figure 1, - Figure 3 is a section of a bracket of the device according to III-III of Figure 1, - Figure 4 is a diagram of the bracket of device according to FIG. 3, in a closed position, - FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but diagrams an opening of the stirrup, - FIG. 6 is similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but diagrams the caliper after the opening, - Figure 7 is a partial section along VII-VII of the

figure 2.

  The embodiment of the invention will be described below.

  after using figures 1 to 7.

  In a known manner as shown in FIG. 1, a boot 1 is retained on a short ski 2 by a retaining device 3. The boot 1, shown in phantom for reasons of convenience, comprises a sole 4, a upper 5, a front end piece 6 located in a front area of the shoe 1, and a rear end piece 7 located in a rear area of the shoe 1

at the heel.

  The ski 2 extends longitudinally between a front end 8 and a rear end 9, and has an upper face 10 opposite to a lower face or sole 11. Of course, the face 10 is designed to receive the device 3,

  and the sole 11 is provided to slide on the snow.

  The device 3 comprises a plate 12 which has an upper face 13 intended to receive the sole 4, as well as a lower face 14 intended to rest on the face

upper 10 of ski 2.

  The plate 12 is retained on the ski 2 by means not shown, such as for example a set of screws screwed into

  ski 2 through holes in plate 12.

  The plate 12 is preferably a single piece, but could also be a set of several pieces. For example, the plate 12 could comprise two half-plates, one receiving a front zone of the sole 4, the other receiving

a rear area of the sole 4.

  The shoe 1 is retained on the device 3 by a front retaining means shown in the form of a

  front caliper 15, and by a rear retaining sub-assembly 16.

  The front stirrup 15 comprises, as is known by a person skilled in the art, a rigid wire 17 associated with a handle 18. The handle 18 can be placed by manual action in a closed position or in an open position, of

  so as to retain or release the toe 6 of the shoe 1.

  The rear retaining sub-assembly 16 is visible in FIG. 2 in a closed position, that is to say of

rear end retainer 7.

  According to the invention, the rear end piece 7 is retained on the plate 12 by means of a sole clamp which has a

  shape complementary to that of the nozzle 7.

  As shown in Figure 7, the tip 7 of the shoe 1 has the general shape of a stud projecting in a longitudinal direction of the shoe 1 at the rear of the sole 4. The tip 7 has an upper face 50 and a rear face 51, faces on which the faces bear

  52 and 53 of the sole clamp.

  The sole clamp should be understood as part

  of the external surface of a locking means of the sub-

restraint system 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rear retaining sub-assembly 16 notably comprises a first branch 19 and a second branch 20 connected to each other on the one hand by the

  locking means, and on the other hand by a pin 21.

  The branches 19, 20 are preferably made with a steel cable, but a link made of synthetic fibers could be suitable. The pin 21 passes through an orifice in the plate 12, so as to retain the rear retaining sub-assembly 16 on the

plate 12.

  The pin 21 is preferably made of steel, or with

a metal alloy.

  The locking means, and therefore the sole clamp, is located above the rear end piece 7 when the shoe 1 is

  retained on the plate 12 of the device 3.

  The locking means comprises a stop 22 integral with

  the branch 19, and a lock 23 secured to the branch 20.

  The stop 22 must be understood as being a part intended to come into contact with the lock 23, and be retained by this

  the latter removably, as will be explained below.

  Of course, the stop 22 and the latch 23 each have

  part of the faces 52 and 53 of the sole clamp.

  Thus, when they are secured to each other, the stop 22 and the latch 23 form the sole clamp to retain

  the rear end piece 7 on the plate 12.

  This amounts to saying that the sole clamp is constituted by two parts which are detachably attached to one another. As best seen in Figure 3, the stop 22 has a bearing surface 24 provided to cooperate with the

lock 23.

  A ball 25 secured to the stop 22 is retained projecting relative to the surface 24, by a means shown in the form of a cable portion 26 associated with sleeves 27, 28. Of course, the sleeves 27, 28 are crimped respectively at each end of the portion 26, and suitable orifices are provided for the passage of the portion

  26 and sleeves 27, 28 in the stop 22 and in the ball 25.

  Thus, the ball 25 cannot move away beyond a distance of

  reference in relation to the support surface 24.

  The ball 25 should be understood as being a nozzle whose preferred embodiment is substantially that of a sphere. However, the ball 25 could have a truncated cone shape, a cylindrical shape, a beveled shape, or

other.

  The lock 23 comprises a fixed jaw 29 and a movable jaw 30, the latter being movable in rotation relative to the fixed jaw 29 according to an articulation of axis 31 produced by any known means such as a journal. The jaws 29, 30 respectively have a cavity 32, 33 which can accommodate a portion of the ball 25. The cavity 32, 33 preferably has a shape complementary to that of the

  ball 25, but it is not an obligation.

  An elastic means permanently biases the jaws 29, 30 towards a closed position, that is to say so

  that the cavities 32, 33 approach each other.

  The elastic means comprises a screw 34 which is screwed into the fixed jaw 29 and which passes through a slot 35 of the movable jaw 30 to project relative to the latter. An elastic element produced in the form of a spring 36 is supported on a thumb wheel 37, screwed onto the screw 34, to urge

  the jaw 30 towards the jaw 29.

  The fixed jaw 29 has a bearing surface 38 intended to come into contact with the bearing surface 24 of the stop 22. Pions 39, 40 of the stop 22 cooperate with orifices 41, 42 of the jaw 29 to position lock 23 by

in relation to the stop 22.

  A handle 43 secured to the fixed jaw 29 and a handle 44 secured to the movable jaw 30 are provided to urge the jaws 29, 30 towards an open position, against the action of the spring 36. This scenario occurs in particular when the user wishes to replace the ball 25 between the jaws 29, 30 after the subset of

rear retainer 16 has opened.

  The elastic locking means is secured to the

  branches 19, 20 as explained below.

  Each of the branches 19, 20 is a portion of cable which has one end secured one to the stop 22, the other

  to the fixed jaw 29 of the lock 23.

  Each portion of cable 19, 20 has another end secured one to a disc 45, the other to a disc 46 of the retaining sub-assembly 16. For example, each means for securing a branch 19, 20 can be made by

crimping.

  The discs 45, 46 are interconnected by the pin

  21, each disc preferably being welded to the pin 21.

  The operation of the device 3 is explained below in

using figures 4 to 6.

  Figure 4 shows schematically the rear retaining sub-assembly 16 in the closed position which it occupies in Figures 1 to 3, during the retaining of the rear end piece 7. The ball 25 is retained by the latch 23 while being pinched in the cavities 32, 33 under the action of the spring 36. The bearing surfaces 24 of the

  stop 22 and 38 of the fixed jaw 29 are in contact.

  It follows that the perimeter of the retaining sub-assembly 16 remains constant while the ski is being driven 2. The perimeter of the sub-assembly 16 is delimited by the pin 21, the branch

  19, the locking means, and the branch 20.

  Of course, the rear retaining sub-assembly 16 retains the end piece 7 while the front stirrup 15 retains the end piece 6. Therefore the sole 4, and therefore the shoe 1,

is retained on plate 12.

  In a case where a stress on the rear end piece 7 on the rear retaining sub-assembly 16 reaches a reference value, in a direction which tends to increase the perimeter of the sub-assembly 16, the locking means releases the rear end piece 7 as can be seen in FIG. 5. The stressing direction can be a distance from the end-piece 7 relative to the plate 12 substantially perpendicular to the upper face 13, according to the arrow F1. The direction can also be oriented transversely with respect to to device 3, to move the heel away from

  plate 12 according to arrow F2 or F3.

  Of course a combination of perpendicular and transverse stresses, for example according to arrow F4 or F5, also tends to increase the perimeter of the sub-assembly 16. When the reference value of the stress is reached, the jaws 29, 30 move away each other against the action of the spring 36 to release the ball 25. The release takes place instantaneously, because the shape of the ball 25 acts as a lever on the shapes of the cavities 32, 33 of the jaws 29, 30 Of course, the bearing surfaces 24 and 38 of the stop 22 and of the fixed jaw 29 are no longer in

  contact with each other after release of the ball 25.

  This means that the rear retaining sub-assembly 16 is open, that the rear end piece 7 is released, and that the shoe

  1 is no longer retained on the device 3.

  Of course, as soon as the ball 25 is released, the jaws 29, 30 are again brought closer to one another

as seen in Figure 6.

  The user can close the sub-assembly 16 by replacing the ball 25 in the latch 23. For this, it suffices to move the jaws 29, 30 against each other against the action of the spring 36, to place the ball 25 between the jaws 29, 30 by positioning the surfaces 24 and 38 one on the other using the pins 39, 40 and the orifices 41, 42, then

  to bring the jaws 29, 30 closer to each other.

  The distance of the jaws 29, 30 is obtained by action on the handles 43, 44, against the spring 36. The approximation of the jaws 29, 30 is obtained by loosening

  handles 43, 44, to let spring 36 act.

  The practice of skiing with the ski 2 and the device 3 according to the invention is usually done without it being necessary to open or close the rear retaining sub-assembly 16, since the boot requires only an action on the handle 18 of the front caliper 15. It is necessary to manipulate the rear retaining sub-assembly 16 to close it only after it has opened by an uncontrolled action of

the user.

  The rear retaining sub-assembly 16 behaves like a force limiter. It releases the heel, and consequently the shoe 1, when the forces visualized in FIG. 5

  reach the reference value.

  The constituent elements of the device 3 can be manufactured with all the materials and according to all the

  techniques known to those skilled in the art.

  In particular, the plate 12 and the handle 18 are made

  preferably with hard plastic reinforced or not.

  The other elements are preferably made of metal,

  made of metal alloy or hard plastic.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment thus described, and includes all the equivalents

  techniques which may fall within the scope of the claims which

will follow.

  The general shape of the locking means of the rear retaining sub-assembly 16 is designed to conform to the shape of the rear toe 7 of the shoe 1. The rear toe could have a structure different from that of the drawings, or be replaced by example by a groove in the heel of the shoe.

Claims (4)

  1- Device for retaining (3) a boot (1) on a short ski (2), the device (3) comprising a plate (12), the plate (12) having an upper face (13) designed to receive at least part of the sole (4) of the boot (1) and a lower face (14) intended to bear on the ski (2), the device (3) comprising a retaining subassembly (16) provided for retaining one end of the sole of the shoe (1) on the upper face (13) of the plate (12), the retaining sub-assembly (16) comprising two branches (19,) secured to each other by removably by a locking means, characterized in that the locking means comprises a ball (25) secured to one (19) of the branches and a latch (23) secured to the other branch (20), the latch (23) comprising two jaws (29, 30) movable relative to each other, the jaws (29, 30) being shaped to accommodate the ball (25), and an elastic means biased both the   jaws (29, 30) in a closed position.   2- retainer (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic means comprises a screw (34) screwed into a fixed jaw (29), the screw (34) passing through a slot (35) of a movable jaw (30), and a spring (36) which bears on a thumbwheel (37) screwed on the screw (34) to urge the movable jaw (30) towards the fixed jaw (29). 3- retainer (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixed (29) and movable jaws   (30) are articulated with respect to each other.   4- Retaining device (3) according to any one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the jaw   fixed (29) has a handle (43) and by the fact that the   movable jaw (30) has a handle (44).   - Retaining sub-assembly (16) provided for retaining one end of the sole of a shoe (1) on a plate (12) or on a short ski (2), the retaining sub-assembly (16) comprising two branches (19, 20) secured to one another in a removable manner by a locking means, characterized in that the locking means comprises a ball (25) 1i secured to a branch (19) and a lock (23) integral with the other branch (20), the latch (23) comprising two jaws (29, 30) movable relative to each other, the jaws (29, 30) being shaped to accommodate the ball (25), and an elastic means urging the jaws (29, 30) into a position closing.